Covid 19 coronavirus: over 600 kiwis break blocking rules over Easter weekend

It seems that some people still do not receive the blocking messages.

While most kiwis did their part this long weekend, more than 600 people were caught by police who were breaking rules designed to try to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Between 6 p.m. Thursday and 9 p.m. On Sunday, compliance measures were taken against 622 people for violating the Civil Defense Emergency Management Law or the Health Law.

Most people received a warning, but the police charged 64 people and made 15 juvenile referrals.

That brings the number of infractions since the introduction of the Level 4 Alert restrictions to 1205, of which there have been 138 prosecutions and 1,038 warnings.

Assistant Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said Easter 2020 has been different for everyone this year due to Level 4 alert restrictions.

The message was clear before the holidays: be safe, stay home and save lives.

“Generally, kiwis across the country understood the message and followed it.

“However, for the minority that ignored the message, the police were there to educate and encourage and, when necessary, enforce,” he said.

Police have carried out more than 500 highway checkpoints across the country to ensure that people follow the rules and only make essential trips during the long weekend.

While thousands of motorists were detained between Thursday and Sunday night, the vast majority complied with the restrictions, and only a small number of travelers returned because their trip was deemed nonessential.

Chambers said police have been taking an educational and encouraging approach to enforce the restrictions.

However, given the restrictions that have been in place for more than two weeks, there has now been an increase in compliance activity as information about what is allowed and what is not allowed is widely available.

“For more than two weeks, most New Zealanders have followed the restrictions and it is making a big difference, but now is the time to double down and make sure that we are all doing our part to get through this period as quickly as possible.” ” he said.

“It is really important that we are not complacent. The best way to ensure the success of the restrictions is for everyone to do their part.”

Along with enforcement activity, the police are also conducting thousands of security visits and patrols across the country.

During the Easter recess until Sunday night, the police completed the 2005 security checks on essential services such as supermarkets, pharmacies and service stations.

In addition to this, more than 2,700 security patrols were completed in communities across the country.

“Our priority continues to be ensuring the safety of everyone in New Zealand and ensuring that people comply with the Level 4 Alert restrictions.”